Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council met in Regular Session on Monday at City Hall.  All members were present.

HEARING FROM THE AUDIENCE: (Individuals may address the City Council about any item not contained on the agenda. A maximum of 15 minutes is allotted for the hearing. If the full 15 minutes are not needed, the City Council will continue with the agenda. The City Council will take no official action on items discussed at the hearing, with the exception of referral to staff or Committee.)

Council Member Brubakken spoke and said the City of Jamestown is not alone in  difficulty in recruiting employees, and pointed to the benefit package.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS DISCUSSED SEPARATELY OR APPROVED AS PRINTED:

To provide more time to discuss controversial or disputed issues, the Council will consider the items on the consent agenda together at the beginning of the public meeting. These items are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion. If a member of the City Council or public requests to be heard on one of these items, the Council will remove the item from the consent agenda and consider that item individually.

 

Item “B” was removed by Council Member Buchanan, a Resolution to approve the Special Use Permit application and $4,000 fee for Compassion Care Centers operating as Medical Marijuana  Dispensaries and/or Manufacturing facilities, contingent upon the final review by the City Attorney.

Buchanan noted the fee is too low given the labor intensive nature, of the process.

He suggests the fee be no lower than $6,000.

City Assessor, Jamison Veil indicated how the figure of $4,000 was arrived, and that the fee may be adjusted in the future.

The Council approved unanimously the $4,000 fee.

 

Item “D,” A Resolution to accept the Urban Grant Program Award for FY 2020 as described in the July 10, 2018, letter from the NDDOT, approve the 10% project matching funds up to $275,978 and remaining project completion costs to be paid from bonds and appropriate funds, and direct staff to proceed on the project planning.

Item “E,” A Resolution was   approved to make 6th Street SE as a one-way from west to east in direction, between 2nd and 3rd Avenue SE, with diagonal parking on both sides of 6th Street SE on that same block, and bump outs on the east side of that block on the north and south corners to establish 6th Street as a one-way street.

Item “I,”  A Resolution to approve the request from Cory Kunerth, XLT Taxi, LLC, to install signage for a dedication of approximately 50’ of parking in front of 218 1st Ave South for bus parking only between 11:00 PM and 4:00 AM daily.

Kunerth, proposes to install signage for a dedication of approximately 50’ of parking in front of 218 1st Ave S. He is requesting no parking other than bus parking between 11:00 PM to 4:00 AM. He says plans are for a bus depot at that location. The committee recommended approval. 12:20 a.m. and 3:20 a.m. are the bus stop times. His office at the location will be staffed during those hours to accommodate travelers including ticket purchases. The committee recommends approval.

REGULAR AGENDA:

RESOLUTIONS:

A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD   To consider authorization of a City Certification of Significant Community Support for Jamestown Rural Fire District.

Representing the Rural Fire District was Brian Paulson who reviewed the plans and the vote by Rural District patrons to approve the purchase of a building to relocate the Rural Fire Department.

Following the Public Hearing, the Council Members approved and authorize a City Certification of Significant Community Support for the submission of a Community Facilities application on behalf of the Jamestown Rural Fire District to the USDA-Rural Development for construction of a New Rural Fire Hall.

The City Council considered curbside collection of solid waste in residential areas except in locations where approved by the City Administrator or designee for safety reasons.

At a recent committee meeting, City sanitation foreman, Roger Mayhew pointed out alley access issues for the larger automated garbage trucks, including accidents involving alley buildings.

City Council members, passed a motion to consider the issue.

During discussion, Council Member Steele said he traveled alleys and talked with Mayhew.

Steele noted travel difficulties and safety issues in some alleys.

He suggested designating the problem alleys, rather than eliminating all alley pick up.

Council Member Phillips noted the width restrictions in the alleys in the winter months with snow, to which Mayhew agreed.  He said it’s the responsibility of the property owner to keep the garbage and recycling bins accessible.  He said paved alleys offer no service problems.

Council Member Phillips pointed out that recycling bins would also need to be placed curbside for pick up.

City Administrator Helleckson said some property owners have built into the alleys.

Mayhew said the alleys will continued to be cleared for snow, for emergency services.

Council Member Buchanan suggested the matter be further discussed at this months committee meeting, and further inform the public on the proposal.

Mayor Heinrich agreed further discussion is needed, and involving the public.

Recycle North Dakota’s Ralph Friebel said the recycling trucks currently drive the alleys, and, streets where necessary.  He pointed to slippery alleys in the winter.

The Council Members on Monday voted to taken the item under consideration.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:   No reports were given

ORDINANCES:

FIRST READING: An ordinance pertaining to the appropriation of the General and Special Funds for the fiscal year January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019.

Administrator Helleckson said for General Fund revenues,to reach $7.6 million, the Mill Levy would need to be 19 mills, an increase of $135 in annual property taxes on a home accessed at $150, 000, at $665.28.

Mayor Heinrich said the preliminary budget is due to the County by Friday August 10th.

The First Reading was moved by Buchanan to approve with a Mill Levy of 24 Mills.  24 Mills is needed to balance the budget and maintain the reserves.  After August 10th the budget can be reduced but not increased.

FIRST READING: An ordinance pertaining to the appropriation of the Revenue and Special Funds for the fiscal year January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019, was approve.

Next week, the Budget Committee will meet to further review the preliminary budget.

APPOINTMENTS:

Appointed Delores Rath to serve as a member of the Planning Commission for a five year term to expire August 2023.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER’S REPORT:   No one spoke.

 

OTHER BUSINESS:

A Resolution to approve the sale of Lot 5, Block 1, I-94 Business Park Addition, to UPS at $1 per square foot as recommended by the JSDC Board of Directors was approved.

 

Approved  was a Resolution to negotiate the  authorization, on the sale and conveyance of Lot 5, Block 1, I-94 Business Park Addition to Jamestown, to BT OH, LLC of Atlanta, GA for $68,607.00 and authorize the Mayor and City Administrator to execute all necessary instruments regarding the sale and conveyance including the Sales Agreement and Business Incentive Agreement between the City, UPS, Inc., and BT OH, LLC.

The meeting was shown live on CSI Cable 67 followed by replays.